President-elect Donald Trump announced he is nominating Matt Gaetz to be attorney general, choosing a fervent conservative congressman to overhaul U.S. law enforcement and implement his agenda on immigration, crime and divisive social issues.
Trump has signaled that he will push for a radical transformation of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which has more than 115,000 employees. The department is at the apex of the machine Trump will need to carry out his agenda, from enforcing federal laws to discussing controversial issues. It also plays a key role in distributing billions of dollars in funding for immigration enforcement, border security and policing.
“Matt will root out systemic corruption at the DOJ and return the Department to its true mission of fighting crime and defending our democracy and Constitution,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “We must have honesty, integrity and transparency at the DOJ. Under Matt’s leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice again.”
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Gaetz, 42, last year orchestrated the ouster of then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after he struck a deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown. The Florida congressman has been a steadfast ally of Trump since he left the White House.
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